Shock absorber



July 22, 1924.

' A. WATERMAN SHOCK ABSORBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Filed Feb.

ATTORNEYS Patented July 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,502,354 PATENT OFFICE,

ARTHUR WATERMAN, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ABSIGNOB '1'0 EDWARD V. HARTFORD, INCL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

snoox ansomam Application filed February 7, 1922. Serial n. 584,679.

Io-all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR WATERMAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and declarant of intention to be come a citizen of the United States, residing at East Oran e, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, ave invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shock Absorbers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates, to improve-v ments in anti-vibration devices for vehicle suspensions, which devices are more commonly known as shock absorbers by reason of the fact that they act to retard or slow the .relative movement of the sus ended parts of the vehicle and thereby re uce or minimize the jars or shocks which are ordinarily transmitted to such suspended parts when the suspension mediums are permitted to act without control.

More specifically, the present invention is directed to an anti-vibration device or shock absorber of the friction type, wherein certain elements are cooperatively associated to int rpose a frictional resistance to the relative movements of the suspended parts of the vehicle to which th'e said devices are attached.

As is well known in the art, the body of a vehicle is usually supported on a frame which is suspended from the vehicle axles or running gear by various types of laminated springs. T e purpose of and 'the method in which the springs function are common knowledge, and hence it willbe unso that the jars or shocks incident to necessary to describe the same or specifically point out the general reasons for the use of shock absorbing devices which it is found necessary to employ to successfully obtain the easy riding qualities which are demanded in vehicle construction. Thegeneral object of the resent invenn is to provide an anti-vi ration device or shock absorber which will retard or slow the movement of the vehicle springs when deflected by the vehicle wheels assin over undulations or obstructions in the ma bed, t is suspension action will not be transmitted to those in the vehicle.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-vibration or shock absorbing device which will section, of a.

effect the retardation of the relative movements of the sus ended parts by interposing a progressive y increasing frictional resistance thereto, this frictional resistance increasing roportionatelywith the inc ease in the de ection of the suspension I euium.

This invention is further designed to be economically produced, the parts therein being reduced to a minimum and bein so assembled that the device may be rea ily attached to motor vehicles and the like without alteration thereof, and in a manner which will permit the vehicle parts to have a considerable range of relative lateral movement without impairing the efiiciency of operation of the device. 7

Furthermore, this invention is designed for general application to motor vehicles of various types and forms of construction without making it necessary to provide special fittings or connections, thereby facilitatin the attachment of the devices to the vehic es and greatly increasing the sphere of usefulness thereof as compared to those devices which re uire alteration of the vehicle frames or ot er arts, or specially desi ed and constructe fittings.

or the a preferre embodiment of the invention is shown and described. It will be understood, however, that the invention may take other forms without departin from the spirit and scope thereof, as de ed by the ap ended claims.

he invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly in ortion of certain suspended parts ofh vehicle with an anti-vibration device or shock absorber, made in accordance with the present invention, attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation looking from the right-hand end of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure '1, illust-ratin another method of connecting the anti-vi ration device or shock absorber to a part of the running gear of the vehicle.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail 'of a portion of the structure of the anti-vibration device or shock absorber,

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the means for connectin the arm of the anti-vibration device to t e vehlcle running gear, and

Figures 7- and 8 are plan views of the 6 tension indicator and cooperating plate.

Referring now to the drawings in detail in which like characters of reference are employed to designate similar parts throu hout the several views, 7 indicates an annu ar plate which is PI'OVldBd. with a preferably integrally formedarm or extension 8. Th s plate 7 is centrally a ertured at 9 and 1s rovided with a perip eral flange 1.0 which interrupted or broken adjacent to said 15 arm or extension 8, as shown at 10 in i plate similar .in configuration to the plate 7 is shown at 11, which is provided with a preferably inte al extension 12 bent H at a right an le to t a plate and formed with a reduce portion or ton no 18 at the end thereof, which-is adapts to register with and enter a slot or openi 8 in the extension 8 of the plate 7 (secF1gr2 As will be observed, the plates 7 an 11 are adapted to be positioned upon the stud or bolt 14 so that their perip ieral flanges 10 and 11 are in opposed relation to each other. Mounted for rotation upon the stud :w 14, and intermediate of the plate 7 and 11- a flat annular member 1.5 formed with a ripheral flange or rim 1.6 and provided a with a-preferably integral arm or extension To increase the bearing surface of "1 member 15 on the stud 14, the said member 's provided with a hub which. may beformed integral therewith, or, as herein shown, may comprise washers 18 and 19 ositioned on the opposite faces of said mom r and rigid Q ly secured thereto by means of rivets or the -11ke 20. A bushing 21, preferably of, antifriction material s inserted within the bearing formed by the hub of the member 15. Located between the opposed of the members 7, 11 and 15, respectivel are friction washers or discs 22 and 23.v ese washers or discs are-of an annular configuration and of a diameter to lie within the respective peripheral flanges of the plates 7 and 11, the said discs or washers ein central l apertured to fit freely upon the ub of t o member 15, as shown in he stud 14 is preferably threaded at each end and'at an intermediate portion is pro vided with a key 14 ads ted to register with a slot 0;" recess in t e plate 24, the latter of which 's gesilient materia an of the configuration hown.-,-- Adjacent to, the plate 24 011 the stud 14 is an abutment 25, against which said plate is adapted'to bear for thepurposes which will bc hereinafter explained. when the parts of my device thus far doscribed have been assembled, they are held arms 27 to contact with t e contigu refer-ably formed of .Owing to t in cooperative relation on the stud 14 under spring. The body portion 26'of this spring is centrally apertured to fit upon the en of the stud 14 so as to ermit the radial ous sum -faoe of the plate 11. The tenqfiomng device is held on the stud 14 byme'ans of a nut 28 adapted for threaded en tigement with said stud, this nut serving a so as a means foire lating or adjusting the pressure on; erted y said device.

Obviously the arms 27 of the tensioning device bear upon and exert a constant pipes-,3" surein at zone adjacent to the perip cry of the plate 11, in a direction counter to that obtained b the employment of the resilient plate QZbearing upon the plate 1'- so that the juxta osed surfacesof the plates 35 7,11 and 15 of t a friction washers or discs 22 and 23 areheld in constant frictional contact over their entire areas.

In the application of my invention to a vehicle, the webof the longitudinal frame member 29 is preferably apertured at 30 and 31, the aperture30 being of a size'to permit of the passage of the s ad. 14 there- 'through, while the aperture 1 is adapted to receive a bolt 32. As will be observed, thehbutment 25 bears against the outer surface of the web of the f ame member'29, the body of the shock ab rber bein rigigi- S pported from the frame mom 4 means of the nut 33 in threaded engpgemen t with the end of the stud 14. A loe washer "84 is ferabl em loyed in conjunction with. e not 8 to ock the latter against movement-and if desired, a plate or spacer- 35- may be, dis

washer, -this spacer also serving as a reinforoament {or said web. The bolt 32 passes through then rturs formed in the arm or extension 8 0 the plate: 7 andpreferably no carries a sleeve or acer 36, whereby, when the securing nut 37 is in looking engagement 1 with theiwasher '38, 'the saidarln or extension and the body portion of the plate 7 will lie in a plane parallel to the web of the frame member. 29. When the shock absorber is mounted on the frame member 29, as just described, it will be clesrlyseen thatthe plates .7 and-11 arenon-rotatable with relation to the stud 14; while the member 15 is free to rotate thereon as hereinafter set forth.

When the shock absorber is attached to the frame member 29, the armor extension 17 of the p or other sus ended part of the running gear.

elateral movement or the; side sway of the frame with relation to the aria-by reason of the action of the vehicle billings i is essential that a mea I s p vbetween the inner face 1 -.of the web o the. frame 29 and the lock late 15 is connected to" the axle, 12'3" connection be employed which will compensate for relative lateral movement without impairing the efficiency of operation of the shock absorber, by throwing the arm 17 out of line and effecting cantin of the frictionally contacting parts. In t e present embodiment of m i invention, I employ a connection bctweent e arms 17 and the axle 40 of the vehicle, which is capable of universal movement and will therefore permit of the eflicient operation of my device irrespective of the relative movement of the vehicle parts. This connection comprises a drag link 41-of the general type employed in motor vehicle construction. The arm 17 is provided with a stud 42 having a spherical head 43 which is adapted to enter the aperture 44 in the upper end socket member 45 of the drag link 41 for engagement by the socket members 46, 47 in the usual manner. For connecting the lower socket member of the drag link 4-1 to the front axle of a motor vehicle, I have employed a bracket, such as shown in Fig. 1, which consists of a plate 48 having right-singularly disposed flanges 49 on each side thereof, and recessed as shown at 50 to conform to the contour of a portion of the lower axle flange. A second plate 51, similarly recessed at 52 and flanged at 53, is adapted to be positioned on the opposite side of the axle, and the bracket rigidly and securely clamped'thcretu, by means of the bolts and other cooperating washers 54 and 55 i If desired, a spacer 56 35 may be inserted bdtwccn the opposite faces of the flanges of the respective plates 48 and 51 to take care of any variation in the size of the lower flange of the axle. The plate 48 adjacent to its up er end is provided with a stud having a sp ierical head, similar to that carried by the arm 17, the head of said stud being adapted for action within the lower socket member of thedrag link 41 in the usual manner.

In Fig. 4. l have shown a preferred method of attaching the lower end of the drag link 41 to the rear axle or housing of a motor vehicle. In this figure, 57 indicates the axle and b8 the rear axle housing. 5!) is a hook or bracket having an extension (ill, which carries a stud 6 having a spherical head similar to the stud 42. The hook is preferably of a configuration to conform substantiilly to the contour of the housing 58, and extends thercbeyoud so as to permit of the-passage of the arms of the U'bolt 62 therethrough, the bracket being securely fastened to the rear axle housing by means of the lock Washers (if; and 66, and the cooperating securing nuts (in and 64 in threaded engagement with said U-bolt.

In order to insure pro ler and sufficient lubrication of the ball and socketjoints, I have found it desirable to locate a grease 1 cup (Won the drag link 41. This grease cup may be of any desired type, but I have found it preferable to employ that form which is usually employed in pressure lubrication. so that the lubricant may be posi Lively applied to each of the connections of the drag link. In order to prevent loss of the lubricant, through the aperture 44, in the respective ends thereof, 1 provide a closure for said aperture which comprises a plate 68 formed of two sections, each of which has one end recessed to fit about the shank of the stud entering said aperture. These plates conform to the contour of the exterior of the end of the drag link adjacent to said aperture 44 and move with the stud within the guideway formed by the wall of the drag link and the plate-69. The latter plate is formed of resilient material and frictionally engages the wall of the socket end of the drag link, the said plate being centrally apertured to ermit of the passage of the spherical stud fiead therethrough 1n the assembly of the closure.

When the shock absorber is mounted on the vehicle frame and the arm 17 thereof connected to the axle of the vehicle, as described, the friction elements which may be considered as comprising the plates 7, l1, and 15, and the friction discs or washers 22 and 23, are placed under a predetermined degree of tension by adjusting the nut 28 on the stud 14. To facilitate adjustment, and in order that substantially the proper ten sion may be obtained in vehicles of different weight or spring action, I inter-pose a plate 70 on the outer face of the plate 1.1, upon which the extremities or feet of the arms 27 of the tcnsioning device are adapted to bear.

This plate is provided with suitable indicia to show the approximate initial resistance in pounds to the relative movement of the vehicle parts, to which the shock absorber is connected. A pointer 71 embodying an arrow 72, indicating the direction of rotation. extends from a preferably hexagonal plate 72} which is mounted on tbe stud 14 and provided with upturned edges to form a seat for the nut 28. The under side of the plate 7-; is formed with a plurality of notches or depressions, which are adapted to be engaged by the radial projections 74 on the upper surface of the substantially starshaped plate 75. The plate 75 is formed to lit upon the body portion 526 of the tensioning device, the ends of the respective arms of said plate being inwardly turned, as shown at 7 3 in Fig. 2, to lie between the arms 27 adjacent. to the body portion 26 of i the tcnsioning device. As will the notches 73 in the plate 73 riding over the projecting surfaces 74 of the plate 75 will rmit of a graduated, or step by step mor at of the securing nut 28, so that the proper degree of adjustment may be expedltlt, usly obtained; also the cooperation of be apparent,

u st

In the operation of'rny obvious that the friction elements are in constant frictional contact, and that a re-' sistance will be,inter osed to the relative movement of the vehic 0 parts, to which the -'devie is attached, on the compression. of the vehicle spring and likewise on the recoil or expansion thereon, WhenEthB vehicle is passing over minor obstruction-s or undulations in the road bed, the frictional resistonce to the relative movement of the vehicle parts will not be as eat as where the ob structions or obstac cs produce relatively greater movement of the suspended parts. have found in the practical ap lication and use of my invention that my e'vice, interposes a frictional resistance to the movement of the vehicle rts which varies proportionately with tie deflection or movement of the vehicle springs. For instance,

2- it will be assumed that the vehicle andshock absorber parts are in the position shown inFi re 1, the vehicle 3 ring; being in its neutra position and the 'ctlon .ments at the shock absorber being "under tensionto" roduce an initial'resistancc of thirty'poun s to the relative movement ofthe vehicle parts. It will be apparent therefore, that the deflection of the ve icle spring? in encountering an obstacle in the road will produos an upward movement of the arm 17. As this arm or extension moves u wardly, the angle between said armrand t e drag link 41 is contracted and the force of lever- 1 age is coincidently ireduced so that the re g eistance oil'ered by the shock absorber to the spring movement is increased proportionatcly to the deflection of the springs, and .efi ectively retards or slo s the u ward or com resslon movement of lhe vehic e sp As t e spring expands or recoils, it is obvione that the greatest resistance will be interposed at the point where the liberation of the energy stored up by. the compression of the spring is initiated, the resistance of feted to the expansion of the spring dimin- 'ishing proportionately as the-energy of the spring is spent or dissi ted.

From the foregoing escription of my invention, it will be manifest that I have produced' a structure which may be economi cally produced and which is so desi ed that it will be compact so as to permit 0 installation upon a motor vehicle in a manner which will leave sufiicient clearance for the relatitemovemcnt ol' the vehicle parts with mirthpcting the performance of my device. lies 7 1i and 15 are preferably Ill ed from sheet metal but. of course,

- e castings or may he made of any ma- Buiteble to the purpose for which swam said :parts are designed. The friction washers 22 and 23 are preferably formed of the well known arguto.wood which possesses a high degree of durability and, when associated with the metal plates 7, 11 and 15, produces a frictional resistance which is highly eificient in the o ration of my device. It will be understoo however that I donot confine myself to or to wood for these parts as the may be ma e of brass or any other suitab e material which will serve to carry out the objects of my inven- V fl Q I claimz 1 A, shock absorber for vehicles having spring supporting means, comprisin inner and outer, superposed discs, the oute r discs being relatively non-rotatable, a member formed to be rigidly secured to a part of the vehicle and rovided with'a portion adapt- :cd to pass t rough said discs to maintain the some in axial alinement, means for ran-- daring said outer discs non-rotate, 1e relative to said vehicle part, a. tensioning device for maintaining all of said discs inifnctional contact, and means of connection between an inner disc and another part of the vehiole whereby the mlativsmovement of the vehicle 'parts will be controlled by said device. v V

2. A shock absorber for vehicles having spring supporting means comp a plurality of inner and outer supe lar discs. at supporting member therefor adapted to be rigidly secured to a vehiclepart and having a portion formed to pass through said discs to maintain the same in axial alinement, means for preventing rota? tion of the outer discs relative to said vehicle art, and means for connecting an intermc iate disc to another vehicle part, said latter means embodying a universal joint, and a tensioning device for maintaining all of said discs in constant frictional en agement whereby the movement of said 1ntermediate arm will interpose a variable resistance to the relative movement of the vehicle arts. i

3 shock absorber for vehicles having spring supporting means comprising a. plurality of superposed 'friction elements, the outer elements being relatively non-rotatable, a bracket having a' rtion adapted to be rigidly secured to the rame of a vehicle, and integral means extending throu b said elementsto support the same in axia alinement, means for preventing rotation of said outer elements relative to said bracket, an arm carried by an intermediate element, and means 1? d the vehicle whereby said latter element will rotate in frictional engagement'with the outer elements to retard the relative mov'e--* ment of the frame and axle of the vehicle.

4. A shock absorber for vehicles having or connecting said am to the axle of means for supporting said discs in superposed relation, said means being adapted or attachment to a part of the vehicle,

means for connecting the outer discs to prevent relative rotation thereof, means for connecting an intermediate disc to another art of the vehicle, and means for maintainmg all of said discs in constant frictional engagement, whereby said intermediate disc w: 1 rotate on said supporting means to interpose a variable reslstance to the relative movement of the vehicle parts.

5 A shock absorber for vehicles having spring supporting means, comprising inner and outer annular-discs, means for supportmg said discs in axial alinement, said support ng means being adapted for rigid connection to a part of the vehicle, means carmed by the outer discs and cooperatively associated to prevent relative rotation of said d scs, said latter means being adapted for rigid connection to the vehicle part which carries the supporting means, an arm extending from an intermediate member and a connection between said arm and another part of the vehicle, said intermediate memher being capable of rotation on said supporting means upon relative movement of the vehicle parts to interpose a progressively increasing resistance upon the compression movement of the vehicle spring and a diminishing resistance to the return of the spring in its neutral point.

6. A shock absorber for vehicles having spring supporting means, cbmprisin annular inner and outer discs, means or supporting said disc-sin superposed relation from a part of the vehicle, means for con- ,necting the outer discs to prevent relative rotation thereof, said latter means being adapted for rigid attachment to said ve hicle part, an arm extending from an intermediate disc, means for connecting said arm to another part of the vehicle. means applying tension to said discs to maintain the same in constant frictional contact whereby the rotation of said. intermediate disc relative to the outer discs will interpose a variable resistance to the relative movement of the vehicle parts to which said non-rotatable discs and said rotatable disc are respectively connected.

7. In a shock absorber, the combination of a plurality of inner and outer discs, the outer discs being relatively non-rotatable, a member adapted for rigid connection to a part of a vehicle and formed with a portion extending through said discs to main tain the same in axial alinement,,an extension carried by an inner disc, and means for connecting said extension to another part of drag with said extension, a second ball and socket connection with the latter vehicle part, means for lubricating said ball and socket onnections carried by said dra link, and means cooperating with the soc (6t portion of said drag link to retain lubricant therein.

8. An attaching device for shock absorbera for motor vehicles, having a rotatable element provided with an arm, which comprises a drag link having a ball and socket connection with said arm. a two-part fitting formed with oppositely disposed jaws adapted to engage the axle of a vehicle, means for clamping said jaws in engagement with said axle, and a hall and socket connection between one part of said fitting and said drag link.

9. In a shock absorber for vehicles the combination of inner and outer disc-like elements, a stud passing through said elements for supportlng the same in axial alinemcnt, means carried by saidstud in engagement with one of the-outer discs to hold all of said elements in constant frictional contact, means for rigidly attaching said stud to the frame of the vehicle, an extension formed on one of said outer elements and adapted for connection to said vehicle frame, means formed integral with the other of said outer elements adapted for connection with said extension to render said outer elements relatively non-rotatable, an arm projecting from an intermediate element, and a connection between said frame and another part of the vehicle, whereby the relative movement of the vehicle parts will be controlled by said frictional elements.

10, A shock absorber for vehicles comprising a plurality of inner and outer annular elements, a stud passing through said elcnients for supporting same in superposed relation, a tensioning device carried by said stud to produce counter forces on the outer elements to maintain all of said elements in constant frictional contact. means for rigidly securing one end of said stud to the frame of a vehicle, an extension formed intcgral with one of said outer elements and adapted to be rigidly co inected .to said vehicle frame, a connection between the other outer element and said extension to render said outerv elements relatively non-rotatable, an arm extending from an intermediate element, a link having a ball and socket connection with the extremity of said arm, a fitting adapted to be clamped to the axle of the vehicle, and a ball and socket connection between said link and said fitting whereby the relative movement of the vehicle parts will be controlled by the frictional contact of said elements.

ll. A shock absorber for vehicles having spring supporting means, comprising inner and outer superposed discs, means for supporting said inner discs from a part of the tension of said device to vehicle and holding said discs immovable with relation to each other and to the vehicie parts, means for connectin an intermediate disc to another part of t e vehicle a tensioning device cooperatively associated with said discs, and means foradjustin; the

obtain a p etermined degree of initialresistance to the relative movement of the vehicle arts, said resistance varyin proportionate y wit-lithe extent of said re ative movement. L

12. A shock absorber for vehicles having spring sup rting means, comprisin inher and outer a, annulardiscs, means or supporting said discs in and maintaining said outer discs immovable with relation to each other and to the vehicle part, an arm carried by an intermediate disc said disc being rotatable on said an porting means, for hol mg all of said discs inoonstant {rice tional contact, and means embodying l universal joint for connecting the arm of said rotatable disc to another part of the vehicle, whereby a variable resistance willbe interposed to the relative movement of the vehicle parts.

ARTHUR WATERMAN.

superposed relation 15 a tensioning device so 

